For the first time in 30 years there is good news to report about the Earth's ozone layer. On Wednesday scientists announced that they had statistical research that showed a vast improvement in the ozone layer. According to a U.N. scientific panel the likely cause for this improvement is the phasing out of chemicals contained in refrigerants and aerosol that have been systematically banned since the 1980's. Although some parts of the world still use these chemicals, the majority of the first-world does not.

Achim Steiner, executive director of the U.N Environmental Program spoke to reporters about the possible reasons for the improved ozone layer. "More than 98 percent of the ozone-depleting substances agreed over time have actually been phased out," he said. Steiner said that if the harmful chemicals had not been phased out "we would be seeing a very substantial global ozone depletion today."

The rebuilding of the ozone is an extremely long process. Since the 1980's aerosol and other dangerous chemicals have been slowly phased out, but it still took another 30 years to see any improvements. The average citizen doesn't understand how long it takes for the environment to recuperate. Global warming and other harmful environmental problems are easy to overlook because they are slow killers, reeking havoc over long periods of time.

 "It's a victory for diplomacy and for science and for the fact that we were able to work together," said chemist Mario Molina, a Nobel Prize winner for his research on the ozone layer.

The U.N. has been an essential governing body in making sure that the environment is protected. After all, no matter the nation that one resides in, there is still just one planet that humans call home. It makes sense that the U.N. should be the leader in protecting the Earth from further harm.

Although the ozone layer appears to be something out of a scientific textbook, it is an essential function for life to survive on planet Earth. Critics of environmentalists seldom understand the true importance of conservation and maintaining low levels of pollution. Without the ozone layer, humans would face harsh UV rays from the Sun and would systematically cease to exist. Given the choice between environmentalism and death, most would choose to the first.

While the initial reports show improvement, there are still decades left to go before the ozone has fully recovered. Scientists estimate that if the current regulations of harmful chemicals are kept in place the ozone will be healthy in 2050 and fully recovered in 2075. This of course is just an estimate based on the current trends. No one is capable of knowing what new pollutants might spring up.